James Franco has several interesting-looking films coming out this fall/winter. The one I’m really, really looking forward to is Howl, where Franco plays poet Allen Ginsberg (and Jon Hamm plays Ginsberg’s free-speech crusading lawyer). Howl comes out in September – goodie. But in November, Franco also has what is probably his “Oscar-bait” film, 127 Hours. It’s Oscar-winning director Danny Boyle’s first film since Slumdog Millionaire, and it’s a film based on the true story of Aron Ralston, the dude who amputated his own arm when he got stuck while cave-diving/climbing. The trailer was just released and… eh. You judge:
Is it just me or is Franco playing Aron Ralston like he’s kind of a douche? Like he’s irresponsible and doesn’t take proper precautions and that’s why he got stuck in this horrible situation? Maybe that who Aron Ralston really is – or maybe that’s my impression of the situation, because the idea of just throwing around my body in a cave is making my skin crawl.
Anyway, I’m willing to bet that Franco’s performance will be heralded, and honestly, it’s nice to see him take on a lead role and actually have to carry a film. He seems to be typecast though – as an impulsive, trying-too-hard douche. Just my opinion. It also seems like the film isn’t just going to be a meditation on Man vs. Rock, you know? They’re trying to sex it up with girls (Kate Mara and Amber Tamblyn) and make it seem like most of the film isn’t just a dude sawing off his own arm with a dull knife. UGH.
Here are some older photos of Franco looking scarred and bruised after he likely filmed scenes where he had to cut off his arm:
He does have that sallow haggard druggie look.
I love him. His smile melts me 🙂
He looks like he smells awful
He’s adorable, BUT he comes across as a self-important condescending douche ALL the time (to me at least).
Looks like any adrenaline junkie guy to me who does something incredibly stupid for fun. That one scene where they drop down into the pool of water looked like so much fun though. I really like James Franco he seems sweet to me.
I think he’s got a heroin problem.
LOVE Franco. First time I saw him was when he played James Dean, and I fell in love. I think reckless is what he had to shoot for while playing Aron-in fact, I think the word reckless kind of fits him to a “T”-but brave does to. I never ever ever could have amputated my arm. Of course you would never see me climbing mountains either 🙂
Nope, he smokes the cheeba but he doesn’t do heroin. Those rumers came out when these pictures 1st did. People were specualting on the bruises
Love him. LOVE him.
Aron Rolston was a douchebag and used absolutely no precautions and that is how he ended up having to cut off his arm. His actions closed down several areas for responsible climbers and gave climbing a bad name. Franco seems to be playing him perfectly.
I believe j.
I always got the feeling that douchebaggery was behind Aron Rolston’s arm incident. Of course I think most people who participate in extreme caving or hiking or, really extreme anything, are self-centered narcissistic desperate douchebags. At least, the ones I’ve known are. Apologies to any extreme sports enthusiasts who are not douchebags (there have to be a few out there, I just haven’t ever met any) 😉
Therefore, despite sharing the James Franco love, I have absolutely no interest in seeing this movie showcasing a douchey fool.
I agree with j’s comments. If you read Aron Ralston’s Wikipedia entry, the reason he had to amputate the arm was that he went to a remote area and told no one where he was going. That’s a stupid and reckless thing to do, especially for an experienced climber.
I don’t agree that James Franco has been typecast. He was a very different character in Milk.
Wow, what cheesy trailer. This seems like typical Boyle-take dark subject matter and make it stylish and glitzy. I really haven’t liked anything he’s done since Trainspotting.
Anyway, maybe it’s just a bad trailer?
Regardless, I’ll probably still see it because I’m in love with Franco.
Heroin tracks.